Kingston’s Providence Manor development received two multi-million dollar donations on Wednesday morning.
Britton Smith, a Kingston philanthropist and founder of Homestead Landholdings, donated $5 million to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, while the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul donated $4.5 million.
“Ensuring we have the best care for members of our community and region is important to me and why I have made this gift towards the building of a new home for Providence Manor,” says Smith in a press release.
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The $9.5-million donation helps in the development of Providence Manor, a care facility that will be part of Providence Village, a community services hub that will offer health services, supportive housing, recreation and social services to residents of the village. The village will also include a residential hospice, which received $1.4 million in provincial funding.
The village is set to be built on a property behind the current Providence Sister Motherhouse, which currently houses the Sisters of Providence. Although plans for the village are underway, the building of the village won’t begin for at least another two years.
“We, Sisters of Providence, were the founders of Providence Manor, a long-term care facility, and have always been proud of the excellent care given to seniors residing there. Our donation to build a new Providence Manor will continue that legacy of compassionate care to all who come to live in its new home,” said sister Sandra Shannon, general superior of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul.
The provincial government also announced support to increase the beds in Providence Manor from 243 to 320 beds at the new Providence Manor home.